Chapter 6 #2
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know if he was cheating on me.
He was discreet if he was. But he just wasn’t around.
Not present, you know? We were thinking of getting a divorce.
Or I was, anyway. I was so frustrated with him.
I was at my wits’ end and I was weak. That’s what Joe was about. I regret hurting him too.”
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s take Joe out of the equation, if that’s even possible.”
“It’s no secret,” she said. “I swear. Tom knew about it. We were moving past it. We both recommitted to our marriage in the last few months. We talked about counseling. Things were good. We were both hopeful. I love him. I know things will look bad to people on the outside, but I’m in love with Tom.
I can’t believe he’s gone. Oh. My sweet, sweet man. ”
“Are the police going to find something damaging when they search your phone and social media?”
It took Katy a moment to collect herself. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, did you complain about him to friends? Were you talking about divorcing him? Do you know if he was talking to his friends about divorcing you? If he was, the police will find that out too. So tell me now. What are they going to find on your phone?”
Her lip quivered. “We had our problems. We rushed into marriage. It was rocky to start off with. But I swear, in the last three or four months, it was like it was when we first got together. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. It was getting good again.”
“Katy,” I said. “If I take you on, this is the deal breaker for me. You can’t dodge my questions. I asked you about your phone and social media. What are the police going to find?”
She cast her glance downward. “Yes, okay? Yes. I complained about Tom to some of my friends. But we all do that. They complained about their spouses to me. We commiserated. It’s what friend groups do? But you’ll see. In the last few months, things were amazing. I texted about that too.”
“Okay,” I said. Though I figured it was anything but.
“Here’s how today is going to go. We’ll go before the judge.
You’ll be asked to enter a plea. When the judge directs you to speak, you say two words.
Not guilty. That’s it. Nothing else. Then the prosecutor is going to recommend that you stay in custody pending trial without bail.
There’s a pretty good chance the judge will go along with that. ”
Katy’s eyes got wide. “You mean I have to stay here? Cass, I can’t. I can’t stay in here. You have to get me out.”
“And I’ll try. But this was a cold-blooded, brutally violent killing of a man who was well known and well liked in this community. There is an eyewitness.”
“She’s not an eyewitness! She didn’t see me kill Tom because I didn’t.”
“And I’ll point that out. But I don’t want to reveal too much of a defense strategy.
” For one thing, I had to actually come up with one.
Right now all she was giving me was that she slept through the whole thing and inexplicably picked up the murder weapon and held it over Tom Loomis’s body.
“I just want you to be prepared. If the judge does set bail, it’s going to be high.
Probably more than you can afford. You won’t have access to Tom’s assets. ”
“Would Joe …”
“Stop,” I said. “Even if Joe volunteered to pay your bond, I wouldn’t allow it. There can be no further connection between you and my brother.”
She nodded.
“And one other thing,” I said. “Do not lie to me. Ever. If I find out you’ve withheld something or not told me the absolute truth, I’m gone. One lie, and I’m out. The same goes for Joe. No lies from either of you.”
“I understand. Of course.”
The deputy opened the door and stepped back inside. “The judge is ready for you now,” she said.
“Let’s go,” I said. “Remember, two words. That’s all you say.”
The deputy led Katy back out. I meant to follow right behind her, but I saw Joe sitting on a bench outside the courtroom.
I gestured to the deputy that I’d follow in a moment. Trying to keep my fury in check, I went to my brother.
“You can’t be here,” I spat.
“It’s a public hearing.”
“Exactly. Have you gone stupid or something?”
Joe scowled.
“You cannot be here,” I said. “You cannot draw attention to your relationship with Katy. You cannot subject yourself to the gauntlet of local news reporters that’s about to form.
Leave. Now. Go through the service exit and don’t let anybody see you.
You think you’re helping Katy. You’re making things worse. ”
He was angry. Joe didn’t like being told what to do. But he had the good sense not to argue. “Thank you,” he said.
“I’m going to tell you what I told Katy. I’m doing this against my better judgment. But you and Emma are both right. Screwed up as it is. Katy is still family. That said … one lie from either one of you, and I’m out. There’s only so much I’m willing to risk for this. Do you understand?”
Joe leaned in and kissed me. My genuinely stoic brother had tears in his eyes.
“I love you,” he said.
“Go,” I whispered as the courtroom door opened and the bailiff poked his head outside.
Joe did as he was told and exited using the service stairwell. I walked into the courtroom just as the bailiff shouted, “All rise!”